Hermosa Beach's pier and courts carry a lot of beach culture

Hermosa Beach is small, but its beach life takes up a lot of room in Southern California memory. The pier is the easiest place to start. The first pier was built in the early 1900s, and the current concrete pier dates to the 1960s, with later renovations keeping it useful for walking, fishing, and taking in the view.

The Strand adds the everyday rhythm. People walk, bike, skate, push strollers, and move between beach towns along the ocean edge. Downtown sits close to the pier, so the beach, shops, restaurants, and courts all feel connected rather than spread out.

Volleyball is a big part of that identity. The city has dozens of approved beach volleyball courts, with many near the pier area. Even if you never play, the courts show the city’s feel: active, public, social, and very tied to sand.

For a first visit, keep it simple. Walk the pier, look north and south along the coast, then spend a little time near the courts and The Strand. The story is not hard to find. It is right where the city meets the beach.